Chase Dowling
It was an idea that began with idle chatter amongst a team waiting for a Whelen Modified Tour event in July at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that turned into something Chase Dowling would have never expected.
It was waiting for last July’s Whelen Modified Tour event in Loudon when the topic of Dowling driving part-time on the Whelen Modified Tour in 2015.
That idea blossomed, and now has put the Roxbury 17-year old in position to chase the division’s Rookie of the Year title as a full-timer in 2015.
Dowling, the leading rookie in the SK Modified division in 2014 at Stafford Motor Speedway will make the jump to the Whelen Modified Tour in 2015 driving a second car for team owner and driver Jamie Tomaino.
Dowling was a crew member with Tomaino’s team last year.
“We were at [New Hampshire Motor Speedway] for the [July] race and it was just kind of thrown out there, ‘I wonder if Chase could ever drive the car.’ Doug Dunleavy said that,” Dowling said. “It kind of just escalated from there. Jamie and his family, they were really willing. They were thinking like a part-time thing at first and Doug Dunleavy [from Dunleavy’s Truck And Trailer Repair] and my other sponsor, S&S Asphalt Paving, stepped up to the plate to bring some good money and made it so we could run the whole season.”
Dowling and Tomaino will run as teammates in 2015.
“I’m very lucky to be 17 years old and being able to have a chance to run the Modified Tour,” Dowling said. “I just have great sponsors that are backing me and Jamie is just giving me an awesome opportunity. I think we’re going to have great success and everything will click right out of the gate.”
Dowling said he also expects to run 4-6 events with the Valenti Modified Racing Series in 2015.
Dowling, who had one victory last year in the SK Modified division at Stafford, become the youngest winner ever in the division, is setting the bar high for himself on the Modified Tour.
“I’d love to get a top-10 in every race, finish top-10 in points and get Rookie of the Year,” Dowling said. “I just want to try to get the best finishes we can. We’ve got great equipment, a great motor and a great crew. I think we’ll get a couple great finishes this year. It’s hard to tell because the competition is really tough.”
Dowling finished fifth in the SK Modified standings at Stafford last year with four top-fives and 12 top-10’s in 17 starts. He finished second in the SK Light Modified division standings at Stafford in 2013.
I saw this kid win the Stafford SK race last June. To be able to do that in this past year was an admirable feat, for sure. That was the best racing division I have seen in many years.And I never saw him involved in any bumper tag or stupid moves all year.
Had the opportunity to meet Chase and his family when he was 14 yrs old competing at Bear Ridge Speedway driving a DMA – USAC Midget…..I got to see first hand how quick he adapted to the midgets and dirt racing. He was fast right out of the box
His performance last year at Stafford was a good indication of what this young fella could do. With connected with Jamie and his years of experience in modifieds and the mod tour will be a great opportunity for Chase to bring his talents to the next level.
Good luck in 2015.
Ray Miller